2003 Soap Box Archives

Remembering Johnny 09/15/03

Several years ago The CDB had the honor of working with Johnny Cash. I
will never forget the experience, from going on Johnny and June’s bus
before the show and having prayer with them to listening to this
musical giant perform the incredible myriad of hits he had recorded in a
career which eventually spanned some fifty years.

I remember standing backstage and hearing chart topper after chart
topper that I had not heard in years. So many hit songs, so many years.

Johnny Cash was a unique stylist who never varied from his earthy
delivery and simplistic musical style. No matter what kind of music
you listened to you just had to like Johnny Cash.

I’ll never forget when I first came to Nashville and was working for
Bob Johnston, who was Johnny’s record producer. One day Bob sent me
to deliver something to Johnny who was taping his television show at
the Ryman Auditorium.

Johnny was one of the biggest stars in the world at that time and I was
just another kid who had come to Nashville in search of a career in the
music business. He had nothing to gain from being so nice to me and
the extra time he took with me.

I had a chance a few years later to tell Johnny just how much his
kindness had meant to me.

When you saw Johnny Cash and June Carter together you could easily tell
how much they loved each other and when June died earlier this year it
must have been the most devastating blow that Johnny ever suffered.

I was never privileged to spend a lot of time around Johnny Cash but I
truly treasure the minutes that I did get experience in the company of
this great man. He was always friendly and gracious.

In 1980 when we won the Grammy for The Devil Went Down to Georgia it
was presented by Johnny and June and they seemed genuinely happy for us.

Johnny Cash appealed to several generations of American music fans and
shortly before his death his unique recording of the Nine Inch Nail’s
song “Hurt” was nominated in several categories for the MTV Awards. At
71 he was still appealing to the younger generation.

It will take a while before the impact of losing this man and his music
to dawn on the world. We had him with us for so long that it’s hard to
imagine never having another new Johnny Cash record to listen to.

I’m sure that the radio stations all over America will be playing a lot
of Johnny’s music for the next few days as we remember and celebrate
the incredible career of one of America’s most beloved native sons.

There is mourning on this earth but there must be laughter and joy in
God’s Heaven today. Johnny and June are together again.

I would like to express the deepest condolences of The CDB organization
to the entire Cash family. May God comfort you in your loss.

Pray for our troops.

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels